3 Best Hostels in Byron Bay, Australia

3 Best Hostels in Byron Bay, Australia

Come on then dear readers, let’s jump straight in and discover the best hostels in Byron Bay. Oh wait, we’ve already found them for you!

This is your guide to the absolute best of Byron Bay.

Byron is the destination in New South Wales for surf dudes and scuba diving enthusiasts. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a humpback whale from the headland.

If that’s not enough, wait until you see the hostels we’ve collected.

Your shortcut:

  1. Wake Up! Byron Bay – great for solo travelers
  2. Byron Bay YHA – top pick for female solo travelers
  3. Backpackers Inn On The Beach – one for couples

Money-saver: Get always the cheapest price online by using the hostel price comparison website Hostelz.com

This guide is perfect for YOU, when …

  • tired of bad and crappy hostels
  • want to avoid the “young party kids”
  • happy to spend 1-2€ for a better experience

What we cover in this article?

You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.

Quick Introduction to Byron Bay

Average price for a bed: Hostels in Byron Bay cost 15€ – 25€ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 60€ up to 100€ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.

Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.

Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.

Surfing: This is the main reason you’re heading to Byron, right? It’s a surf haven! The three main surf spots include Main Beach, Belongil Beach and Tallow Beach. Main Beach is the closest to town.

Cape Byron Lighthouse: Did you know that this marks the most easterly point in all of Australia? It’s certainly worth a visit. We recommend renting a bicycle for the 30-minute road trip from town. There is also a 3.7km walk through rainforest and across clifftops.

Between June-November it’s likely that you will spot migrating humpback whales from the cliffs.

Nightlife: Is really big in Byron Bay town. There are clubs, pubs and live music events happening most nights, especially in high season.

The one place worth heading to if you enjoy a big night is Woody’s Surf Shack.

🎁 New to Hostels? Read my guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. I especially recommend reading:

The 3 Best Hostels in Byron Bay

Let’s jump right into the boutique hostels in Byron Bay.

  1. Wake Up! Byron Bay
  2. Byron Bay YHA
  3. Backpackers Inn On The Beach

We put all three accommodation on the map, you will find the map at the end of the article.

Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type

🦸 Solo Traveler: Wake Up! Byron Bay
🙎‍♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler: Byron Bay YHA
🥳 Party Hostel:Byron Bay Beach Hostel
👩‍❤️‍👨Couple Hostel: Backpackers Inn On The Beach
👨‍👩‍👦 Family Hostel: Byron Bay YHA
👩‍💻 For Digital Nomads: Wake Up! Byron Bay
🧘 Cozy Hostel: Backpackers Inn On The Beach

1. Wake Up! Byron Bay

It would be rude to offer you anything less than a place to stay minutes from the beach as our best hostel in Byron Bay Australia!

You’re in luck: Wake Up Byron Bay is in fact just seconds from Belongil Beach.

Whilst you may think this is the main attraction, let us convince you otherwise.

Hands up if you like the word FREE. Get ready for…

  • A complimentary shuttle bus to/from town
  • Free bicycle hire
  • Free yoga classes
  • Free surf & paddle board hire
  • Free high-speed Wifi
  • Free personal training sessions
  • Free pancakes on Sundays

Phew, that’s a lot of things to cram in. Best book a few more nights than planned.

Oh and make sure you’re around for the live music and $10 food events.

Just head on down to The Tree House bar and restaurant to find out what’s happening and wind down with a drink (or two).

Note: The Tree House is open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The dorm rooms are quite basic, yet comfortable.

Though you won’t get a curtain, each bed does come with a charging point and light.

Choose from 4, 6, 8 and 10-bed dorms (including female only) and a twin or double for travelling duos.

This is by far a fantastic social hostel, perfect for meeting new people.

Book Wake Up! Byron Bay here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

WakeUp! - One of the coolest Hostels in Byron Bay, Australia - that VW bus is just gorgeous!
WakeUp!

Fancy a private room? WakeUp! has some beautiful private double rooms on offer

Fancy a private room? WakeUp! has some beautiful private double rooms on offer

Location: Practically on the beach, just north of the town centre. It’s a 5-minute bike ride or free shuttle in to town where bars, clubs and shops can be found.

This is one of the best hostels in Byron Bay for

  • Solo travellers
  • Friends
  • Surfer dudes
Book Wake Up! Byron Bay here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Wake Up! Byron Bay is one of the best hostels in Byron Bay, Australia Wake Up! Byron Bay is one of the best hostels in Byron Bay, Australia Wake Up! Byron Bay is one of the best hostels in Byron Bay, Australia

2. Byron Bay YHA

Next up is a contemporary chilled space just metres from some of Australia’s top surf beaches; welcome to Byron Bay YHA.

Top communal areas opened up in 2018 to make this hostel one of the top hostels in Byron Bay.

Yet, we personally think the best place to hang out has to be the outdoor swimming pool – it’s solar heated!

The staff here have plenty of ideas to keep you occupied.

How about…

  • A guided walk to the lighthouse on Monday
  • A movie & FREE popcorn on Tuesday
  • BBQ night on Friday
  • Pizza on Sunday to finish off the week

That is of course if you’re not out surfing, kayaking, hand-gliding, cycling or watching a sunset over the beach.

If you fancy just relaxing in peace, that’s also possible.

Enjoy ample outdoor seating and decking, a comfy lounge and lush garden. The big kitchen is ideal for cooking up a storm.

Read: How to be the Worst Hostel Guest Ever? 22 Steps Recipe

As for rooms? A wind range of traveller types are in for a treat! There are:

  • 4, 5 and 9-bed female dorms
  • 4 and 9-bed male dorms
  • 4, 5 and 10-bed mixed dorms
  • Twin & double rooms (private and shared bathrooms)

And yes, privacy curtains are included, yay!

Everyone also gets a huge backpack-sized locker, reading light, air-con and charging points.

Location: Just a few hundred metres from the beach, in the heart of Byron Bay. What more could you want?

This is one of the best hostels in Byron Bay for

  • Female solo travellers
  • Backpackers
Book Byron Bay YHA here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Byron Bay YHA is one of the best hostels in Byron Bay, Australia Byron Bay YHA is one of the best hostels in Byron Bay, Australia Byron Bay YHA is one of the best hostels in Byron Bay, Australia

3. Backpackers Inn On The Beach

How about yet another hostel by the beach! Oh, go on then.

Byron Backpackers Inn On The Beach lives by its name, situated nearby the iconic surf break known as “The Wreck”.

This is strictly a NO PARTY hostel. This means no hen/stag parties, birthday’s or sporting groups.

Yet that doesn’t mean this is a boring hostel with no fun.

Quite the opposite, actually. How about:

  • Awesome fire shows
  • Live music events
  • Outdoor swimming pool
  • Regular BBQ’s and
  • 2-minutes walk to bars, shops & restaurants

You’re sure to be entertained every minute of the day, if you like.

This, coupled with a huge grassy garden, WiFi, TV room and beach volleyball; it is the ultimate place to hang out.

Cool: Common areas close at 10:30 pm to support quiet evenings. Older travellers will surely appreciate this.

It’s also possible to hire a surf/boogie board and hit the waves. Just ask the super friendly staff.

There is a great selection of rooms including dorms with 4-9 beds. Private rooms come in triple and double size.

Location: As we’ve already established, the beach is 50 metres way. It’s also a 10-minute walk to Belongil Beach, passing Main Beach along the way.

This is one of the best hostels in Byron Bay for

  • Couples
  • Surf lovers
Book Backpackers Inn On The Beach here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Backpackers Inn On The Beach is one of the best hostels in Byron Bay, Australia Backpackers Inn On The Beach is one of the best hostels in Byron Bay, Australia Backpackers Inn On The Beach is one of the best hostels in Byron Bay, Australia

What about cheapest hostels in Byron Bay?

Of course, there are always cheap hostels. So forget hotels; let’s have a look at cheap hostels Byron Bay.

We think, it’s not worth it to go with the cheapest hostel out there.

Why?

The difference is usually 1-2€ ($1-2) per night, and a lot of amenities are not included. This can be breakfast or linen.

However, if you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you wanna save every penny, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Byron Bay.

  1. Open Hostelworld with full list of budget places to stay in Byron Bay
  2. Order the listing by price

Simple as that.

Read: 15 hacks for booking hostels

Make sure you use then the other filters and rank per price.

Also keep a close eye on the ratings, especially the “extreme ratings”. Meaning, the best and worst. These ratings can give great insight on what to expect.

Best Hostels in Byron Bay for Solo Travellers?

What is seriously the best hostel in Byron Bay for solo-travellers?

Honestly, all of the cool hostels in this collection are good for solo travellers.

That’s because they all offer fun, social vibes, great communal spaces and dorms big enough to meet new people.

Yet, if we were to recommend just one, we’d go with Wake Up! Byron Bay.

The Tree House bar and restaurant is ideal for hanging out alone or making conversation. The dorms also range in size to suit your mood.

Book Wake Up! Byron Bay here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Wake Up! Byron Bay is one of the best hostels in Byron Bay, Australia

Party Hostels in Byron Bay

Alright party animals, it’s time to deliver a fun party hostel in Byron Bay for you.

What makes a good party hostel, we hear you ask.

How about:

  • Rooftop cafe/bar
  • Happy hour
  • 50m from a beautiful beach

Stay at Byron Bay Beach Hostel and you can enjoy all of this and more.

Join in the free yoga most mornings, and treat yourself to a $10 burger. Beach soccer and ping pong are sure-fire ways to make new friends.

Book Byron Bay Beach Hostel here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Byron Bay Beach Hostel is one of the best party hostels in Byron Bay, Australia

Best Backpackers in Byron Bay?

Luckily for you, backpacker accommodation Byron Bay is heaving!

It’s a hot destination for young travellers, hippies, surfers and party animals. So as you can imagine, backpacker hostels are numerous.

Here are a few of our favourites:

  1. Backpackers Holiday Village (aka Backpackers Village Byron Bay) – outdoor pool, contained apartments & volleyball
  2. Aquarius Backpackers Byron Bay – FREE dinner every night
  3. Cape Byron YHA – free breakfast, heated pool & social events
  4. Arts Factory Lodge (aka Arts Factory Byron Bay)- teepees, jungle camping & didgeridoo workshops
Aquarius Backpackers Resort is one of the best hostels for backpackers in Byron Bay
Aquarius Backpackers Resort
Arts Factory Lodge is one of the best hostels for backpackers in Byron Bay
Arts Factory Lodge
Billabong Backpackers Resort is one of the best hostels for backpackers in Byron Bay, Australia
Billabong Backpackers Resort

How to book?

We recommend using Booking.com or Hostelworld for your reservations.

Hostelworld is the most popular website when it comes to hostel bookings.

Read: step-by-step guide on how to book with Hostelworld

On both platforms your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.

We included the handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.

Here is the overview:

  1. Wake Up Hostel Byron Bay: Booking.com | Hostelworld
  2. Byron Bay YHA: Booking.com | Hostelworld
  3. Backpackers On The Beach Byron Bay: Booking.com | Hostelworld
  4. Byron Bay Beach Hostel: Booking.com | Hostelworld

We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible!

All of Byron Bay best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish hostels, secure your room or bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.

Any Discounts?

Currently, we have no special hostel discounts in Byron Bay. I know, it’s a pity. You can subscribe to our newsletter to receive our newest hostel discounts always to your inbox.

You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here.

Hostel Map Byron Bay Nomadic AnnaMy Best Hostels in Byron Bay for Female Traveler on a Map + Sights

Let us have a look on the map. Below we list all three best Byron Bay hostels on a map.

Personally, we love to plan our trips with a map having all sights and potential hostels on it. We thought this map will help you with planning your trip too.

We also included the main tourist attractions you’ve to know in this list:

  • Cape Byron Lighthouse
  • Tallow Beach
  • Belongil Beach
  • Main Beach
  • Arakwal National Park
  • Cape Byron State Conservation Area

Happy Travels Byron Bay are a great option for tours in the immediate area and for greater Australia.

(you can activate and deactivate the different layers in the left sidebar. Open the map in a new tab here)

FAQ

Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.

What to do in Byron Bay for Free?

Good question! We know how much backpackers on a budget appreciate fun and free things to do.

Though it’s a top tourist destination, you’ll be surprised at the wonderful free things there are to get involved in.

A few suggestions for you:

  • Visit the Byron Bay markets (Byron Flea Market, Farmers Market & Community Market)
  • Sit down on the cliff and try to spot a whale
  • Do the Cape Byron Lighthouse walk
  • Hit the beaches
  • Attend some awesome live music
  • Visit some waterfalls in Nightcap National Park

Fun article: 20 fun things to do by Wheres Mollie Byron Bay

More guides

Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Byron Bay.

Here are some more awesome guides in Australia:

Heading over to Fiji? check out our guide to the best hostels in Fiji.

You can find all our new and updates articles for Best Hostels in here.

We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list and more.

Over to you

There you have it; your complete guide to Byron Bay.

Was this useful? Do you have any questions, doubts? Which is your favourite hostel Byron Bay Australia has to offer?

Then please please leave us a comment. This list of awesome Byron Bay hostels should be as informative and useful as possible.arts

Your question will help me to understand what I have missed to mention.

Therefore, drop us a comment, we are keen to help you!

Last note: Our commitment

This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter and find the best place on a budget! We ONLY recommend places we know you will enjoy, no matter what.

We will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We only share with you places we also recommend to our best friends and family!

Enjoy this fine hostel selection and all 5 Star Hostels.